The Backyard Beekeeper: A Comprehensive Guide to Starting and Maintaining a Bee Colony - 4th Edition

Olivier: I verily despise this book. Every third page talks about this parasite that's affecting bees called 'Verroa' and how dangerous and hazardous it is and how beekeeping is 'something else' now. The writing is negative and heavy, very uninspiring. I'm so tired of reading about the Verroa, all I wanted was to keep a few bees, not save the world or hear about climate change and bee vandals. Fearmongering and BS at its best.

Canada on Nov 22, 2023

ezjam: There is some really good information here for someone who is looking to get started as a backyard beekeeper.

However, the paragraph flow and sentence structure is lacking. When I read this book, it feels like my brain is doing somersaults to understand the meaning of any one sentence. While I am learning a lot, I finally decided to put the book down after only 30 or so pages. Here's an example of a sentence that could be improved:

"Add to this that every beekeeper has a different Varroa-control strategy -- from absolutely none to extreme chemical use -- and you can begin to imagine the problem. Chaos can be the result and the only remedy is to be on tconstant vigilance for Varroa population buildup, viral sysmptoms showing up, and practicing defensive controls all season long."

My suggestion to the author is to not give up, but consider having the book heavily red-lined by an experienced writer or English professor.

United States on Sep 25, 2023

Rizwan Khan: excellent work

India on Sep 07, 2023

Old Buff: I like the fact that these all have a flower on them. The hummingbirds go right to them to feed. I grouped them close together like flowers on a bush. The hummingbirds like them.

United States on Jul 09, 2023

Angie Roufs: I love this Book. Exactly what I needed! Soo much information.

United States on Jun 12, 2023

e: perfect for starters

Germany on May 18, 2023

Fooled Once: Two of the parts were for a different size hive. When I contacted the manufacturer, they sent the correct parts right away. I would deal with them again.

United States on May 08, 2023

Jennifer: Added this to my beekeeping resources. Lots of great information and tips for the new and experienced beekeepers :)

Canada on Apr 05, 2022

Mitch Staunch: I cannot imagine a better resource to start beekeeping with than this book. It is great quality, cheap, easy to read, has all information you will run into in your first year, has pictures with captions, etc. I’ve watched YouTube videos for months, thinking that would be enough - boy, was I wrong. This book has taught me so many things. It has such great linear pace, information, etc.

I saw other reviews harping on it that it talked about Varroa too much. I can tell you right now, those are not going to be good beekeepers. If a disease killed 90% of humans, I would not go to a doctor that got bored of a 200 page picture book that talked about it too much. I am on page 140 and there hasn’t been a dedicated section to Varroa yet, which I’m kind of bummed about.

Great read. Don’t know how it could be better.

United States on Mar 23, 2022

Yvonne: Bought as a gift for someone, she seems to be enjoying it

United Kingdom on Oct 04, 2021